The Best Porsche Cayenne Model Years & Variants Ever Produced

What Makes It Special

In 2008, the Cayenne's front end was redesigned and now incorporated slimmer headlights and a new grille. Porsche also upgraded the infotainment system, adding more features and making it more user-friendly. The rear seats were redesigned to make them more comfortable.

The powertrains also received attention from the carmaker. The V8 in the Cayenne S was bumped up to 4.8 litres and 385 hp, up from 340 hp, while the Turbo model received 500 hp and an increase of 50 hp. An all-new variant, the Cayenne GTS, joined the lineup. At the time, it was touted by Porsche as the most sporting SUV on the market.

The 2008 Cayenne model is a relatively inexpensive way to get into the Performance SUV segment. It combines a decent, family-friendly interior with Porsche's renowned performance pedigree. With a reliability rating of 79 out of 100 from JD Power, the 2008 model year is known for its durability.

What Makes It Special

2013 for the Cayenne witnessed the reintroduction of the GTS, which had been dropped from the lineup in 2011. The sporty SUV now made 420 hp from its 4.8-litre V8. However, the most powerful car in the lineup was the Turbo S, with an impressive 550 hp on tap.

In addition to new models, Porsche's first diesel engine for the US debuted on the 2013 Cayenne. The new GTS trim got sports seats and a system that funnelled engine noise into the passenger compartment to enhance the driving experience. The range-topping Turbo S had unique 21-inch wheels and exclusive two-tone leather interior.

The 2013 Cayenne has a solid reputation for reliability, with popular sites like JD Power giving the car above-average scores. However, it is still a performance SUV, and it is crucial to purchase a well-maintained example, preferably one with a comprehensive service history.

What Makes It Special

The highlight of the 2022 model year was, no doubt, the introduction of the bonkers Cayenne Turbo GT. The car set a benchmark for sporty SUVs with supercar-rivalling performance, able to rocket to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. It is an incredible feat for a vehicle that weighs 4,950 lbs (2,245 kg).

With its coupe body style, practicality is not a priority, even though the Cayenne Turbo GT still has decent cargo space compared to its rivals. What the car offers the ultimate thrill seeker is savage acceleration, courtesy of its twin-turbocharged V8, and supreme handling that belies its size.

Apart from introducing the Turbo GT Cayenne coupe, Porsche updated the existing lineup with its latest infotainment software package with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There was also a Platinum Edition package available across the lineup. It enhances the Cayenne's luxurious feel with satin finishes on the exterior trim and unique 21-inch wheels.

What Makes It Special

The Cayenne GTS is back in the lineup for 2025. This racier Cayenne variant boasts 493 hp from its twin-turbo V8 and some performance enhancements from the Turbo GT model. However, an interested buyer may not even need to go that far up the Cayenne hierarchy, especially if the six-figure sums of the top trims are a concern.

Even the base model of the latest Cayenne lineup still has plenty to offer an interested buyer. In addition to a turbocharged V6 that generates almost 350 hp, there's also a generous standard options list that includes a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker stereo and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. You will want to watch out for Porsche's famously extensive optional extras, though, as they can inflate the base price pretty quickly.

It's still too early for consumer reviews on reliability, but the Cayenne has an established reputation for quality and durability, with consistently high scores on the leading automobile review sites.

What Makes It Special

Changes to the 2019 Cayenne model were extensive, compared to the second-gen models. The Cayenne now looked sportier with a power dome on the hood, new matrix LED headlights and a crisper line above the rocker panels. The SUV was also longer, lower and wider than previous iterations.

Porsche also added a bunch of tech upgrades across the entire lineup. Examples include the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) for a more balanced ride. It was standard on the Cayenne Turbo but optional on the Cayenne Base and S models. Rear-wheel steering was also introduced for the first time, improving the car's handling.

Porsche also introduced the coupe body style, expanding the Cayenne lineup to capture a broader market segment. Power upgrades were pretty decent for all trims, with even the base Cayenne pushing over 330 hp. However, adventurous buyers may want to consider the top-trim models, like the Cayenne Turbo, with 541 hp, courtesy of a potent twin-turbocharged V8. It was the Cayenne's most powerful variant at the time.

What Makes It Special

The second-generation Cayenne was introduced at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The SUV boasted significant improvements over the first-gen's handling and performance.

The overall looks were also improved. The first-gen Cayenne was criticized for its 'blob' shape. Porsche designers mostly fixed that with a sculpted hood with 911-like cut lines. More subtle air intakes underneath the front bumper also gave the car a more aggressive look.

Porsche also made the Cayenne much lighter with extensive use of aluminum for parts like the hood, suspension pieces and doors. That directly translated to improved handling and better gas mileage compared to the previous model.

A hybrid variant also joined the Cayenne lineup for the first time. The Cayenne S Hybrid paired a turbocharged engine, taken from Audi, with an electric motor for a total power output of around 380 hp.

What Makes It Special

The Cayenne Turbo GT is the absolute zenith of SUV performance. Created specifically to claim the Nürburgring record for SUVs, it is available exclusively in the "Coupe" body style. While other high-end Cayennes use hybrid tech to boost power, the Turbo GT sticks to a heavily modified 4.0L twin-turbo V8. It features a titanium exhaust system that exits centrally, saving weight and providing a raw, high-pitched scream that is entirely unique in the SUV world.

This variant is 17mm lower than a standard Turbo and features a bespoke suspension setup. Porsche engineers increased the front wheel camber by 0.45 degrees and fitted wider Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires developed specifically for this car. The result is an SUV that turns in with the sharpness of a GT3, utilizing active roll stabilization and ceramic brakes to mask its 5,000-pound curb weight.

Driving a Turbo GT is a disorienting experience because your brain tells you a vehicle this tall shouldn't be able to corner this flat. It is the first SUV from Porsche to wear the "GT" nomenclature (previously reserved for the 911 and 718 GT cars), and it earns that badge through pure, unadulterated speed. It is effectively a supercar that happens to have a large trunk and four seats.

What Makes It Special

The Transsyberia is perhaps the coolest Cayenne ever made for the "adventurer" enthusiast. Produced to celebrate Porsche’s dominance in the 4,400-mile Transsyberian Rally, this limited-edition model (only 600 units for North America) brought the rugged rally-look to the street. Based on the 957-generation, it combined the high-output V8 from the GTS with the heavy-duty off-road hardware of the Cayenne S.

Visually, the Transsyberia is unmistakable. It typically features two-tone paint schemes—like Meteor Grey with Crystal Silver or Black with Orange accents—along with roof-mounted off-road lights and "Transsyberia" side decals. Inside, Alcantara and orange stitching remind you that this isn't a standard suburban crawler. It was one of the last Cayennes to offer a truly robust low-range transfer case and locking differentials as part of its core identity.

Because it was built on the 957 platform, it retains the hydraulic steering and mechanical feel that many modern Cayennes have lost. It represents a time when Porsche was eager to prove the Cayenne could conquer the Mongolian wilderness just as easily as the Autobahn. Today, it is a highly sought-after collector's item for those who appreciate Porsche’s off-road heritage.

What Makes It Special

The 958.1-generation GTS is considered by many to be the "sweet spot" of the Cayenne timeline. It was the last time the GTS variant featured a naturally aspirated V8 engine before Porsche switched to turbocharging. Because it lacks turbos, the throttle response is instantaneous and the sound is legendary—a deep, mechanical V8 bark that modern turbocharged engines struggle to replicate.

The GTS was designed for the driver who prioritized handling and "feel" over raw top speed. It sits 20mm lower than the Cayenne S and features the Turbo's aggressive front fascia as standard. Inside, the GTS-specific sport seats and extensive use of Alcantara create a cockpit that feels more like a sports car than a utility vehicle. It was a masterclass in chassis tuning, proving that a heavy SUV could be genuinely playful on a winding road.

This specific generation is beloved because it strikes a perfect balance between modern luxury and "old-school" mechanical soul. It feels lighter and more agile than the first-generation models but retains the characterful engine that makes every downshift an event. For the enthusiast who wants a V8 sound and a sharp chassis without the complexity of modern hybrid systems, the 958.1 GTS is the gold standard.

What Makes It Special

The Turbo S E-Hybrid is the ultimate expression of Porsche’s technical "brute force." By taking the already powerful twin-turbo V8 and adding a high-torque electric motor, Porsche created a vehicle with 729 horsepower (in its latest form). This model represents the "Alpha" of the lineup for those who want the most of everything: the most power, the most technology, and the most prestige.

The car uses a "boost strategy" derived from the 918 Spyder hypercar, using the electric motor to fill in the torque gaps while the turbos spool up. This results in relentless, neck-snapping acceleration from any speed. It also offers the ability to cruise in near-total silence on electric power for short commutes, giving it a dual personality that no other variant can match.

Because it is the flagship, it comes standard with almost every performance option Porsche offers, including Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). It is a heavy machine, but it uses every bit of its advanced software to hide that weight. It is the "no-compromise" choice for the buyer who wants the fastest, most technologically advanced SUV Porsche knows how to build.

What Makes It Special

The original 955 Turbo is the car that started the high-performance SUV revolution. When it launched, it was the fastest SUV in the world, capable of outrunning many contemporary sports cars while still being a legitimate off-roader. It featured a 4.5L twin-turbo V8 and an adjustable air suspension that could raise the car to provide nearly 11 inches of ground clearance.

What makes the 955 Turbo special is its "over-engineered" nature. Porsche was so determined to prove that an SUV could be a "real" Porsche that they built it to withstand extreme abuse. It featured a heavy-duty four-wheel-drive system with a low-range transfer case and a locking center differential—features that have largely been phased out of modern performance SUVs in favor of weight savings.

Today, the 955 Turbo is gaining status as a "Youngtimer" classic. Its 911-inspired "egg" headlights and muscular stance have aged better than critics originally predicted. It remains a testament to Porsche’s engineering courage, proving that you could have 911-levels of turbo boost in a package that could also tow a boat or cross a desert.

What Makes It Special

When the conversation turns to "no trade-offs," the Cayenne Turbo GT is the only answer. This is the first SUV Porsche allowed their GT department to fully develop, and it shows. By intentionally omitting the heavy hybrid batteries found in the Turbo S E-Hybrid, Porsche kept the Turbo GT focused on one thing: physics-defying lap times. It is arguably the only SUV in the world that feels truly at home on a race track, offering front-end grip that mirrors a 911.

From an investment standpoint, the Turbo GT is the "911 GT3" of the SUV world. It is produced in lower numbers than the standard Turbo and is visually distinguished by its carbon fiber roof, widened wheel arches, and those iconic center-exit titanium exhausts. As the automotive world shifts toward electrification, a pure-ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) V8 with this level of tuning is almost guaranteed to become a high-value "end of an era" collectible.

For the enthusiast, there is no higher peak. The engine is a masterpiece of violence and refinement, and the chassis is so stiff and responsive that you forget you are sitting several feet off the ground. It is the ultimate "one-car garage" solution—a vehicle that can drop the kids at school and then set a blistering lap time at a track day without changing a single setting.

What Makes It Special

If the Turbo GT is the “new money” blue-chip, the manual 957 Cayenne GTS is the enthusiast’s insider pick—the one that feels increasingly impossible in hindsight. A naturally aspirated V8, the sharper GTS chassis tune, and the genuinely rare “I can’t believe they offered it” manual gearbox creates the kind of spec that becomes folklore, then demand, then price memory. The market has already started showing how irrationally people will chase the right manual Cayenne.

What makes it special to drive isn’t just the third pedal—it’s the whole era. The 957 GTS has that old-school Porsche SUV character: substantial steering feel, a V8 that likes revs, and a sense of mechanical connection you simply don’t get from the newer, more insulated cars. It’s fast enough to be entertaining, but more importantly, it’s engaging at sane speeds—exactly the trait that makes “keeper” enthusiast cars.

From an investment perspective, the manual GTS is the rare Cayenne that checks true Porsche collector boxes: rarity + narrative + analog feel. Porsche itself has essentially “validated” the idea of the manual GTS as a cultural object (not just an old used SUV) by spotlighting and restoring one through its customization/heritage storytelling channels. That kind of brand attention tends to pour gasoline on desirability.